Container-wall connection and track



.July 13, 1943. P. zALKlND CONTAINER-WALL CONNECTION A ND TRACK 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed 001'.. 19, 1935 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 13, 1943. P. zALKlND CONTAINER-'WALL CONNECTION AND TRACK Original Filed Oct. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CON TAINER-WALL CONNECTION AND TRACK Philip zalkina, New York, N. Y.

Original application October 19, 1935, Serial No. 45,714, now Patent No. 2,210,019, dated August 6, 1940. Divided and this application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,630

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-107) My invention is a division of my application issued February 13, 1934, and my application S. N. 693,841 filed October 16, 1933, of which this application is a continuation in part, reinforcing members, preferably made of metal are applied to open front end of a container comprising a bottom member, a top member, and two side walls, the reinforcing members being so applied to the container that it may readily be collapsed for shipment with the reinforcing members applied to the casing. In these applications, I also showed means of interlocking superposed and adjacent casings.

I have found that by a novel construction, I can produce a casing comprising two sides and either a top member or a bottom member and thus secure a considerable economy in the construction and at the same time the casing will have great structural strength and rigidity.

In this construction, I use sheet material hav ing score or bend lines on which said material may be manually folded so that the container may be folded or collapsed for shipment, and this collapsibility is secured with the reinforcing members applied to the casing and preferably with interlocking means between superposed casings.

I have found that when superposed casings of a stack are suitably interlocked, such interlocking may be arranged in va manner that each of the casings of the stack impart additional strength to each other. Thus wherein my novel construction I use a casing comprising a top Wall and two side walls, and with such novel construction, I place the casing over a similar casing and suitably interlock the two casings together, the top of the subjacent casing acts as a bottom member for the upper casing and the interlocking means may be utilized to assist in maintaining the bottom width of the upper casing to an amount substantially equal to that of the top width of the casings.

While in the construction of my novel casing, I may use any suitable material such as corrugated board, paperboard or other sheet material of brous nature, I prefer to use a laminated material comprising a metallic layer combined with a dominant non-metallic layer having a score or bending line on which the laminated structure is manually foldable. Such a sheet is described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 21,411, led May 14, 1935.

In addition to the advantage accruing to my novel construction through economy of material, certain other advantageous features may be secured as will later be described in further detail. Thus, with a casing comprising a top member and two side members, track members may be applied either directly to the side members or to the flaps attached to the side members. In this manner, the tracks are at or near the edges of the casing Vblank and thus may be more easily applied to the blank than in the form of casing wherein the track must be positioned at some distances from the edge of the casing blank. This is of particular advantage in handling blanks of large size such as are needed to produce casings suitable for use With filing drawers for letter size or legal size sheets.

Accordingly, objects of my invention are to provide a folding or collapsible casing comprising side Walls with either a top or bottom Wall and provided with reinforcing members which serve to maintain the casing in proper position when `the casing has been folded into set up position.

Other objects of my invention are to provide interlocking means for adjacent and/or superposed sections which cooperate in maintaining the casing in proper position in its setup position and which contribute to the strength and rigidity of the casings of a stack. Further objects are to provide drawer suspension means, drawer stops. and other novel features in a collapsiblel casing having three principal sides.

In the construction of my lnovel casing, I may utilize many of the novel features disclosed in my copending applications filed coincidentally with the parent application of this application and entitled Clips, S. N. 45,712, now Patent No. 2,142,166, dated April 1, 1941. Predetermined bend line, S. N.

45,710 Rollers, S. N. 45,715, now Patent No. 2,236,557,

dated April 1, 1941. Reentrant clips, S. N.

45,709, now Patent No. 2,184,829', dated December 26, 1939 Panels, S. N. 45,708. Container fastening means,

S. N. 46,316, now Patent No. 2,236,557, dated April l, 1941 These and other objects of my invention, which together with the foregoing, will appear in the detailed description following in connection with the drawings, in'which:

Figures l to 7 inclusive are isometric views showing my casing with the top panel inset between the side walls and with various modifications oi interlocking means for superposed casings.

Figure 8 is an isometric View of two casings stacked one on the other and formed with two side walls and a bottom wall.

Figure 9 is an isometric view of a top panel which may be used with a casing such as is shown in Figure 8.

Figures 10 and 12 are isometric views showing portions of casings with various forms of track members which may be used with my casing.

Figures 13 to 16 are isometric Views showing sections of other modified forms of track members.

In each of my casings or containers herein described, the front and rear may have the constructions shown in my parent application Ser. No. 45,714, iiled October 19, 1935, or in my application Ser. No. 693,841, led October 16, 1933, or in my Patent No. 2,118,011, issued May 17, 1938, and my Patent No. 2,088,315, issued July 27, 1937.

In Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, I have shown a number of sections in which the top of my casings described in said applications and patents has been modified in such a manner that the top is inset between the side walls. Thus referring to Figure 1, the top panel 2 has the side anges |6a and |661) which are folded so as t lie flat against the side walls 3a and 3b respectively. In this position, the iiange andthe top of the side wall are secured to each other by any suitable means i such as the metallic channel |6|. This construction is shown in all of the Figures 1 to 5 inclusive. In Figures 4 and 5 channel |6| has the trough-shaped extension I 62. The side walls may be formed from the same sheet of material as the top panel and the flanges as shown in Figure 1 or the top panel and flanges may be made of a separate sheet from the side walls as shown in Figure 3. This joint is of a folding or collapsible type as is shown in my copending application entitled Clips and led coincidentally'with the parent application of this application.

As is indicated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the flanges'formed on the top of the casing may be used for interlocking superposed casings. Thus in Figure 1 there is shown the members |63 attached to the bottom of each of the side walls of the casing. These members |64 have a section shaped in an ogee curve so that when the upper w' casing is placed over the lower casing, the side walls 3a and 3b of the upper casing rest upon the members |6| of the lower casing and the outstanding portions |64 of the members |63 of the upper casing t snugly between the members IBI of the lower casing. In Figure 2 substantially the same coaction between casings is obtained. However, the member |63 is provided with a flange |65 extending at right angles from the extremity of the outstanding portion |64. This ange |65 rests upon the top panel 2 of the subjacent casing and may serve as a track for a wheel or roller for supportingthe drawer to be insertedinto the casing. In Figure '3, the bottom of the side walls 3a and 3b have attached thereto the member |66 having the shape of an inverted U and provided with the extension |61 for attachment to the side walls. Each of the U portions t snugly over its corresponding mating member |6|.

In Figure 4, the members |63 are attached at the bottom of the side Walls on the outside of the walls instead of on the inside of the walls as shown in Figure 1. The extensions |64 of the members |63 thus cooperate with Ithe troughs |62 provided for that purpose on the channels |6|. In the construction shown in Figure 5, the upper portions of the side walls 3a and 3b are bent inwardly a suflicient distance that the troughs |62 are in vertical alignment with the side walls. Thus the members |63 shown attached to the outside of the side walls in Figure 4 may be omitted in the modined form shown in Figure 5, as in this latter iigure the bottom edges of the side walls 3a and 3b of the upper casing may be inserted directly into the troughs |62 on the members |6| of the lower casing. In Figure 45, there is also shown flange portions |65 attached to the inner edge of the members |6|.

These anges are similar to those described in connection with Figure 2.

It will be understood that except where the member attached to the bottom of the side walls is to function also as a track member, it may be composed of a plurality of short sections attached to each wall of the casing rather than a single piece on each wall, substantially continuous with the wall to which it is attached. That is either a single piece or a plurality of pieces may be used on each wall according to the particular application.

It will further be noted that the flange arrangement on the top of the side walls is not adisadvantage in contributing useless height to a stack of casings as it would be if each casing had both a top and bottom panel. It will readily be seen that when the casings are stacked vertically, the space between the anges of the lower casing is added to the space provided between the top and side walls of the upper casing; and a drawer constructed to operate in the casing `may be of a size to utilize the combined space so provided.

In Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the flange portions |a and |6913 were shown as coterminous with the top of the side walls 3a and 3b. The top panel 2 with its flanges |6811 and |6011 could thus be integral with the side walls or could be a separate piece therefrom according to the particular application. Where the top panel 2 with the flanges |6011. and |601) is a separate sheet from the side walls, the top of the anges may be placed either above the top of the side walls as is shown in Figure 6 or below the top of the side walls as is shown in Figure 7. In these two figures, the top panel 2 with its integral flanges |60a and |695 is shown as being attached to the side walls 3a andb by the stitching |68.

In Figure 6, theat plates |10 are attached to the lower extremity of the side walls 3a and 3b and protrude beyond the walls. When one casing is superimposed upon a similar casing the lower edges of the side walls 3a and 3b of the upper casing rest upon the upper edges of the side walls 3a and 3b of the lower casing. In this position, the upper portion of the side wall of the lower casing and the lower portion of the side wall of the upper casing are positioned between the upturned flange on the top panel 2 of the lower casing and the downwardly extending plate |16 on the bottom of the upper casing. The two casings are thus rigidly positioned with respect to each other.

In Figure 7, the lower edges of the side walls have afxed thereto an additional plate placed on the inside of the casing. The two 'extremities of the two walls will be restricted in movement by the plates and It will, of course, be understood that a track member may be formed on the inner plate |1| as desired.

In the modifications so far discussed, I have shown a casing having a top panel and two side wall panels but with no bottom panel. Any of these constructions may be inverted with slight modifications so as to form a casing having a bottom panel and two side walls but with no top panel. An example of such a modification is shown in Figure 8. p

The casing shown in this figure is shown with a suitable rear end panel and a reinforced front end similar to that described in my patent and applications above mentioned.

Along the exposed upper edge of the side walls of the casing is disposed the reinforcing member |8| which may be provided with the rail |85. As shown, at two points |82 cn each of these reinforcing members |8| the metal is slit and turned back to form the upwardly protruding prongs |83. When one casing is superimposed upon another similar casing, these prongs |83 in the lower casing enter similarly disposed slots |84 provided in the bottom panel of the upper casing. While two prongs |83 and slots |84 are shown on each side of the casing, any suitable member may be used. As shown, the front end of the casing is interlocked with the interlock bar 38 and the slots 28.

A suitable top panel may be used with the inverted type of casing. Such a top section is illustrated in Figure 9, which shows a top panel to match the particular form of casing shown in Figure 8. This top panel comprises a simple rectangular sheet of material |86 having U shaped metallic reinforcements |81 attached around its perimeter. Slots |84 are provided to coact with the prongs |83 on the top of the casing and at the locations |89, the side reinforcements |81 are slit and the metal between the slits is turned back to form the prongs |88 which are adapted to enter the upper slots 28 on the vertical front edge reinforcing members 26 of the casing. When the top panel is thus placed over the casing, the prongs |83 of the casing enter the slots |841 of the cover, and the prongs |88 of the cover enter the slots 28 of the casing, which secures the cover to the casing.

The various interlock constructions of Figures 1 7 may also be utilized in connection as friction reducing guides where one casing is to slide with respect to each other or a drawer is to slide within a casing. Thus in Figure 3, members |6| provide suitable track members which position members |66 and upon which members |66 may slide. Members |6| may, if desired be placed in the bottom wall of a casing and members |66 may be placed on the bottom edges of the side walls of a drawer to provide slide members for the drawer in the casing.

The casing, in modified form, may be constructed to provide suitable track members for other types of drawers as seen in Figures 10 to 16 where I have shown track members attached to the free edges of the side walls of a casing.

In Figure 10, the free edge |92 of the casing is provided with the Z shaped track 9|. As shown, the casing sheet is then folded back on the score line |93 and stitched as shown at |98. With this arrangement the track may be applied at the free edge of the sheet, but will be positioned at any height desired on the side wall. This same.

method of applying a track to the free edge of the-sheet may be used even when the casing is provided with a flange at the ,bottom as has been shown, for instance, in Figures 2 and 16. Thus,

in Figure l1 the flange |95 may be formed from the construction of Figure 10 by incorporating a bending line 203 `and folding the sheet along this line.

In Figures l2 and 13, I have shown a box like structure at the free edge of the sheet. This box structure is maintained in position by a channelshaped metallic reinforcing member. In Figure 12, this member V|98 is shaped in a manner to provide a flat track on the top of the box member and in Figure 13, the reinforcing member |91 is shaped to provide a grooved track on top of the box member |95.

In Figures 14 and 15, the edge of the side wall is provided with an L-shaped flange |99 carrying a track. In Figure 13, this track 208 is a simple channel member having a groove 20d for carrying a wheel on the drawer. In Figure 14, the track 20| is an L-shaped member surrounding the flange 99.

In Figure 16, the track member is a double channel formed as an integral structure. One channel 205 conforms to the sheet material of the casing and is placed over the free edge |92 of the side wall. The other channel 206 may be used for supporting a drawer.

In my construction, I may use corrugated board as the sheet material forming the body of the f casing. Such corrugated board may have a considerable curvature in the blank sheet, which has heretofore been a source of annoyance as it has interfered with the construction of the casing. I have found that I may utilize the curvature of the board in a manner to aid in the construction. Thus if I arrange the blank of the casing and the fittings thereon in such a manner that when viewed from the inside, the top wall would be convex from side to side and the side walls would be convex from top to bottom before the various parts are locked together by my various reinforcing and combining means, then after the casing has been fully set up and the parts locked together and reinforced, the curvature of the sheet will be removed due to the stress imposed upon the sheet by the various reinforcing members. This strain so set up in the sheet 'will act to force the sheet material into closer contact with the reinforcing members and locking members than would be the case if no such strain were present. In this manner, the original curvature of the sheet is removed from the final structure and a strain is set up which instead of being detrimental to the structure, acts to more rmly hold it in position.

It will be understood, of course, that I do not depend upon this strain set up from curvature of the sheet as my structure is well united into a rigid entity when made from fiat corrugated board or other material.

It will be understood that the examples described have been shown by way of illustration only and that many changes may be made in my invention without departing from the scope and intentV thereof.

Now having described my invention, so that it may be readily understood by one skilled in the art, I claim:

l. In casings to form a stack, a lower casing and a superposed casing, each casing having a top wall and side Walls, the top Wall of the lower casing forming the bottom wall of the superposed casing, means for interconnecting said casings, said means comprising a rail at the top of each side wall of the lower casing engaged with rails on the bottoms of the side walls of the superposed casing, the rail at the top of each side wall comprising a channel member embracing the top longitudinal edge of the side wall and a margin of the top wall, the said margin of the top wall being in surface to surface contact with the side wall and being folded to a position normal to the remainder of the top wall; and an integral longitudinal extension from said channel, said extension cooperating with a portion of said channel to form a. member of U shaped cross-section to receive the rail of the superposed vertical wall.

2. In casings to form a stack, a lower casing `and a superposed casing, each casing having a top wall and side walls, the top wall of the lower casing forming the bottom wall of the superposed casing, means for interconnecting said casings, said means comprising a rail at the top of each side wall of the lower casing engaged with rails on the bottoms of the side walls of the superposed casing, the rail at the top of each side wall comprising a channel member embracing the top longitudinal edge of the side wall and a margin of the top wall, the said margin of the top wall being in surface to surface contact with the side wall and being folded to a position normal to the remainder of the top wall; and an integral longitudinal extension from said channel, said extension cooperating with a portion of said channel to form a member of U shaped cross-section to receive the rail of the superposed vertical wall, said rail of the superposed vertical wall comprising a metallic extension secured to the bottom longitudinal edge thereof.

PHILIP ZALKIND. 

